THRC directs prison authorities to ensure Rs 1.5 lakh compensation for convict Sarathi Sarkar, while dropping proceedings over his proposed transfer to Kolkata after successful ACL surgery at AGMC & GBP Hospital. The Commission will review compliance after one month, keeping prisoner healthcare and administrative accountability under scrutiny.
The Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) has directed prison authorities to ensure the payment of Rs 1.5 lakh compensation to convict prisoner Sarathi Sarkar, while dropping proceedings related to its earlier recommendation to shift him to Kolkata for advanced medical treatment.
In its order dated July 8, 2026, the Commission had recommended that Sarkar be transferred to SSKM Hospital in Kolkata after expressing concern over alleged negligence and delays in his medical treatment. Alongside the recommendation for specialised treatment, the THRC had directed that compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh be paid to Sarkar within 30 days.
However, subsequent developments changed the circumstances surrounding the proposed transfer. During the hearings, the Commission was informed that Sarkar had undergone surgery for bilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears at AGMC & GBP Hospital in Agartala on June 20. He was discharged from the hospital on June 25 and subsequently showed significant improvement.
Appearing before the Commission, Inspector General of Prisons Upendra Jamatia explained that Sarkar was not shifted to Kolkata because AGMC & GBP Hospital had acquired the equipment required to conduct the necessary surgery. According to the prison authorities, the treatment was therefore carried out in Agartala.
Sarkar was examined again on July 27, when doctors reportedly found that he was walking properly. He was said to have been experiencing only mild pain in his knees, indicating considerable recovery following the surgery.
The THRC acknowledged that the treatment had ultimately been successful. However, it observed that prison authorities had committed a procedural error by failing to inform the Commission before proceeding with the surgery at AGMC & GBP Hospital.
Despite the lapse, the Commission decided not to pursue the matter further under Section 18(c) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. The decision was based on Sarkar’s recovery and the absence of any further complaints regarding his medical condition.
The issue of compensation, however, remains unresolved. The Rs 1.5 lakh ordered by the Commission has not yet been paid to Sarkar. Jamatia informed the Commission that steps were being taken in consultation with the Home Department to facilitate the release of the funds.
The Commission refrained from issuing an adverse order against the authorities at this stage. Instead, it directed that the matter be listed again after one month to receive a compliance report on the compensation payment.
The case has highlighted broader concerns surrounding healthcare facilities for prisoners, administrative accountability and timely implementation of human rights directives. While Sarkar’s medical treatment has progressed satisfactorily, the pending compensation has emerged as the remaining issue before the Commission.
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The next compliance hearing will determine whether the prison authorities and the administration have acted on the THRC’s compensation directive. For the Commission, the case underscores the importance of ensuring that recommendations and orders concerning prisoners’ rights are implemented within the prescribed timeframe.
